by Andrew Carey
A SITTING of the West Limerick Coroner’s court in Newacastle West this week returned verdicts into a number of sudden deaths over the past year where Gardaí were praised for their compassionate concern for bereaved families.
On Monday last, deputising coroner Ms Antoinette Simon heard evidence relating to the sudden death of a man in the offices of his county Limerick solicitor on July 14 last. The inquest jury concluded that the 66-year-old native of Rathkeale died after suffering a heart attack in the solicitor’s office.
A 64-year farmer died having suffered a heart attack while loading cattle into a lorry on August 18 last. A postmortem revealed the presence of a blood clot that led to the heart attack.
Two other inquests returned verdicts on the tragic deaths of two young men who were found hanged after their families grew concerned for their welfare.
Verdicts in accordance with the medical evidence were returned and the jury heard that toxic levels of alcohol were found in one of the post mortems.
A young woman missing from her home for a number of days died after she drowned in the river Shannon earlier this year. The county Limerick woman was last seen at home a number of days before her body was recovered from the water in April.
The jury returned a verdict of death due to asphyxia as a result of drowning.
Addressing the bereaved families, Ms Simon expressed sympathies to all the family members.
She also praised the Gardaí for their sensitive approach to the cases.
“No training or experience in life can assist Gardaí in facing families with such dreadful news. It is a credit to a force who are often berated in the public eye for enforcing minor things that may seem trivial but their compassion and continued assistance to the families is often invaluable.”
Ms Simon said that the coroner’s court was the “people’s court and although traumatic, she wanted families to leave it without any unanswered questions into the deaths of the loved ones.
“It is a difficult time but I hope this process will help the healing and allow the brighter memories shine through”, she added.
